Garcia galvanizes Volcanoes offense in win

The Volcanoes ride a five run fifth to win game four of the series

(Ben Ammon)

By Traven Tapson / Salem-Keizer Volcanoes | August 6, 2017 10:57 PM

KEIZER, Ore. -- The Volcanoes rode a five run fifth to defeat the AquaSox 7 to 1 on Sunday afternoon, evening the series ahead of the rubber match on Monday night. After averaging nearly nine runs a game in the first three games of the series, the AquaSox could hardly muster any offense tonight, scoring just one run on two hits.

It was all zeroes on the scoreboard until the bottom of the fourth when second baseman Orlando Garcia hit a laser off the scoreboard, advanced to third on a botched pickoff attempt, then scored on a sac fly by Northwest League RBI leader Ryan Kirby.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, catcher Rob Calabrese reached first on a throwing error by AquaSox shortstop Chris Torres, the eleventh error of the series for Everett. Calabrese advanced to third on a base hit by right fielder Dalton Combs, then scored on a passed ball to give the Volcanoes the 2 to 0 lead. Centerfielder Bryce Johnson then lofted a blooper into right field to score Combs for the second run in the inning. After left fielder Logan Baldwin was plunked with a pitch to put two runners on, Garcia launched his second home run in as many nights to give the Volcanoes the 6 to 0 lead.

Later in the eighth inning, Combs hit his first professional home run to right field. Combs' solo shot put the Volcanoes up 7 to 1.

Jason Bahr had his best start as a professional tonight by going 5.1 innings and giving up just one earned run on two hits and one walk while striking out four. Since his move to the starting rotation, the right-hander has a 3.42 ERA, which ranks second amongst Volcanoes starters.

In for Bahr was left hander Alex Bostic followed by closer John Russell. The two Volcanoes relievers combined for three scoreless innings to get the Volcanoes back in the win column.

Garcia once again led the Volcanoes offense, going 3 for 5 with three RBIs and falling just a triple shy of the cycle. Prior to this series, Garcia had not played since July 27th, but the young second baseman has made an emphatic return to the lineup, going 7 for 14 with 8 RBIs in the last three games.

With the win tonight, the Volcanoes will have a chance to take the series tomorrow with ace Stetson Woods on the mound against lefthander Oliver Jaskie at 6:35 p.m.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.